Judas Priest this week has announced the launch of the Glenn Tipton Parkinson's Foundation, named for the band's longtime guitarist.
This past winter, Tipton announced he was stepping away from the band due to his Parkinson's disease making it too difficult for him to perform. While Tipton is still a member of Judas Priest and recorded on the band's most recent album, his condition has deteriorated to the point where he can't perform live consistently.
"It was the band that suggested we start a foundation, which although in my name, is really a Judas Priest foundation," said the guitarist in a statement.
All proceeds from the foundation will benefit a "pioneering new treatment" for Parkinson's called "MR guided focused ultrasound thalamotomy," Tipton continued. He added that the procedure has been extremely successful in treating tremors associated with the disease.
Tipton joined Judas Priest on stage at a number of stops on its latest tour in support of the band's Firepower album. But he says his condition is too severe for him to perform a full set.
While Tipton explains that there are a number of Parkinson's organizations to which Judas Priest could donate proceeds, his wish was to directly support a Parkinson's treatment his own specialist is involved with developing.
The band is selling a 'No Surrender' T-shirt to support the Tipton Foundation. Fans can support the cause here.
Tipton says the band will update fans on how much money they've raised over the course of the next tour.
Judas Priest is returning to the states this August in a co-headlining tour with hard rock pioneers Deep Purple.
Get all of Judas Priest's tour dates here.
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